title: Mycophenolate mofetil in the treatment of IgA nephropathy: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in IgA nephropathy (IgAN).
  
  
  METHODS
  A search through Cochrane Library, EMBASE and PubMed was carried out. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), which compared MMF with conventional treatments, were identified. Patients' baseline, treatment strategies and study end-points were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four RCTs (168 patients) were selected. All patients had histologically-confirmed IgAN and proteinuria greater than 1 g/day. The follow-up duration ranged from 1.5 to 3.0 years. MMF was used at a titrated dose of 1-2 g/day. In the two trials with subjects having moderate to high risk for progressive disease, MMF did not demonstrate any significant difference in retarding the decline in renal function and proteinuria reduction. One trial concluded that there was a trend towards worse outcomes when MMF was used in moderately-advanced disease. Only one trial involving subjects with less advanced disease (reflected by a favourable histological grade) showed a significant decrease in proteinuria in the MMF-treated group. No serious adverse events occurred in all the four trials using MMF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No benefit was seen in moderately-advanced IgAN treated with MMF. In a selected group of patients with less advanced disease, MMF was effective in proteinuria reduction. Larger randomised studies are needed to confirm or reject these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608. rogertanch@hotmail.com
authors.forename: C H R
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000628:therapy; D011786:Quality Control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010919:Placebos; D003404:Creatinine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid